Illuminated sign



Aug. 29, 1950 A. s. HOFFMAN ILLUMINATED SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 1, 1945 Inventor AMEN S HOFFMAN n" I MM 1950 A. s. HOFFMAN 2,520,243

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Nov. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I u ueutor AME/V 51 HOFFMAN y (I mdfizwey K Patentecl Aug. 29, 1950 ILLUMINATED SIGN Allen S. Hoffman, Council Bluffs, Iowa, assignor to Howard Sales Company, Council Bluffs, Iowa, a copartnership v ApplicationNovember 1, 1945, Serial No. 626,057

' 1 Claim. (o1, 40- 130) This invention relates-to improvements in a display device and more particularly to a changeable illuminated sign.

A primary object of the invention is to facilitate the display of menus, price lists, house numbers, and all forms of advertising matter and the like where illumination is desired.

Among its features my invention embodies a hollow box-like base having spaced rows of openings in its upper side, a contact strip extending longitudinally within the space adjacent each row of openings, contact pins attached to the contact strips and extending through one end of the base and interchangeable blocks of opaque material having at least one translucent area and containing illuminating means and contact pins carried by the bottom of each block and adapted to be extended through the openings in the'space to engage the contact strips and establish communication between the contact strip and the illuminating means within the block.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a base embodying the features of this invention, portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the base illustrated in Figure 1 showing one of the blocks in place on the base.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view through Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the contact strips showing the contact pin carried thereby.

Figure 5 is a front view of a built up sign embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View through a portion of the sign illustrated in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view from the underside of one of the supporting columns, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of one of the block supporting bars.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a base designated generally [5 comprises a hollow boxlike body l6 having spaced rows l1 and 18 of openings in its upper side. Arranged within the body 16 and extending longitudinally of the row I! of spaced opening is a conductor strip l9 which as illustrated is provided at spaced intervals in alignment with the opening I! with vertically extending indentations 20, the purpose of which will more fully hereinafter appear. A similar strip 2| having vertically extending indentations 22 extends longitudinally within the body iii in spaced relation to the strip [9 and adjacent the row I8 of openings. Each of these strips is provided at its end with a contact pin 23 which projects through one end wall of the body l6 and is adapted to enter sockets in a suitable connector (not shown) through which electrical power is supplied to the contact strips l9 and 2!. It will be understood, of course, that the body if) is preferably formed of a suitable non-conductor or insulating material so that short circuiting between the strips l9 and 21 will be avoided.

Suitable display blocks generally designated 24 are adapted for association with the base l5 as suggested in Figures 2 and 3, and each of these blocks comprises a hollow rectangular body 25 preferably formed as a hollow rectangular boxlike structure of opaque insulating material having at least on one face a panel 26 of a transparent or translucent character. As suggested in the drawings, the panel 26 may take the form of letters of the alphabet though it is to be understood that numerals as well as other figures may be carried in lieu of the letters. Mounted within the hollow box-like body 25 of each block 2 5 is a suitable illuminating means 21 such as an incandescent electric lamp and opposite terminals of this lamp are connected to contact pins 28 which project through the bottom wall of the box-like body 25 and are adapted to enter the openings l1 and it to engage the contact strips i9 and 2| preferably in the depressions 20 and 22 which are so shaped as to partially embrace the pins 28 in order to establish good electrical contact between the parts. It will be understood that the pins 28 of each block are so arranged as to be readily received within the openings I! and I8 so that a plurality of words may be spelled out as suggested in Figure 5.

In order to build up a display sign, I provide in addition to the base [5 a plurality of columns designated generally 29, each of which comprises a substantially hollow rectangular body so of insulating material carrying at its lower end spaced contact pins 3L These pins are so ar-- ranged that they may be entered into the openings l1 and iii in the base i5 and engage the conductor strips l9 and 2E. Carried at the upper end of each body 30 is a pair of spaced sockets 32 which are arranged to conform to the spacing of the openings H as will be readily appreciated upon reference to Figure 5. It will thus be seen that should it be so desired, each column 29 may be surmounted with an illumi- 3 nated block 24 so that the blocks may be arranged to attract attention to the sign.

A block supporting bar designated generally 33 is adapted to be mounted upon the upper ends of the columns 29 and this bar 33 comprises a hollow box-like body 34 having spaced rows 35 and as for openings which corr spond n spacin to the I! and [3 or openings in the base 15. Like the base [5, the body 34 contains spaced parallel conductor strips 31, one for each row 3 and 36 of openings, and depending frornthe contact strips 31 and projecting through the bottom wall of the box-like body .3! areconta t ass 38 which are so arranged as to enter the sockets 3! in the columns 29 as will be readily understood on reference to Figure 5. g

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that various combinations of letters, fl'gure's or other designs may be made by mounting the blocks is on the ease l and where so desired, holiiinii's -2 9 -'rha'y be likewise mounted "on the base is with the supporting bar 3: mountedon the ends thereof. Additional columns 1.9 may the supporting bar 33 suggested in Figure '5 and an infinite number of combinations may this be'protluceil for the purpose of displayare means, house numbers, price lists and any ot er r'ii-atefial-sultable for such display.

While in the foregoing there has been shown ihd'le'scribed the preferre'd'embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, 'con'ibinaremand arrangement or parts 'may be re's'orted to without 'dpai'tifi from the spirit and scope "ofjth'e invention as bl'aimed.

In ach19;'rigeiable display device, a base comprising 'hhlbh'g'alt'd hollow box-like body of insulating material, the upper wall of said body having spaced parallel rows of uniformly spaced openings extending therethrough, elongated relatively thin narrow strips of conducting material within said body adjacent the upper wall thereof, said conductor strips lying perpendicular to said upper wall and having spaced transversely extending indentations therein which register with the openings in said upper wall, a contact pin carried by each conductor strip and extending through one end wall of the body, a plurality of individual blocks each comprising a hollow boxlike of opaque insulating material having a translucent area on at least one side face thereof, illuminating means in said block, and contact carried by the bottom wall of each block, said contact pins being electrically connected to the illuminating means and removably entering the openings in the base and the indentations in the conductor strips to retain the blocks in place on the base and establish electrical communication between the conductor strips and the illuminating'means. I r v ALLEN S. HOFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the the (if this patent:

STATES PATENTS 

